Post-Brexit trade policy in the UK

Placebo Policy-Making

Bibliographic Data

ID6291306
AuthorsMaría García (0000-0001-6019-639X, University of Bath, corresponding author), Maria J Garcia (University of Bath)
Year2023
Volume30
Issue11
Pages2492-2518
Publication date2023-11-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of European Public Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1350-1763 • E-ISSN: 1466-4429
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13501763.2023.2235380
OpenAlexW4385310362
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited55

Trade policy and negotiations have lain at the heart of the Brexit process. Initial UK trade policy has been characterised by: (1) the need to limit the impact of changes in trading relations (mainly with the EU) to minimise challenges for businesses and the possibility of economic losses; (2) a strong ideological commitment to free trade, and related to that; (3) symbolic and ‘placebo’ actions designed to show that the UK can enact an independent trade policy. Negotiation of free trade agreements (FTAs), thus, became a priority of trade policy. This article explores how approaches to FTAs have evolved, focusing specifically on post-Brexit FTAs with Australasia. Overall, the desire to complete speedy agreements has at times trumped business and societal interests, and precluded the development of a coherent long-term UK FTA vision, revealing the symbolic motivation of being seen as ‘delivering Brexit’ behind the initial years of post-Brexit trade policy.KEYWORDS: BrexitFTApolicy-makingpost-Brexittrade policysymbolism AcknowledgementsI am very grateful to the anonymous reviewers and editors for their constructive criticism and very helpful comments. Special thanks to Jeremy Richardson for his valuable suggestions and feedback on earlier versions.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsMaria J. GarciaMaria Garcia is senior lecturer and head in the Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies at the University of Bath

Brexit · Business · Commercial policy · Economics · European union · Free trade · Ideology · International economics · International trade · Negotiation · Political science · Politics · European Union Policy and Governance · Law · Social Policy and Reform Studies · State Capitalism and Financial Governance